Real reviews by real skiers. What a concept! Add your own today. Reviews only please, questions can be posted as replies but new threads looking for opinions should be posted to the main Telemark Talk Forum.

The other week I received my new 2017 Scarpa T4s, so I thought that I can share some thoughts about them. This is my 6th pair of T3/T4s, these boots usually survive about 200 ski days for me . I use them as my main boot for anything from cross-country and piste to steep couloirs, and occasionally for ice climbing.

The boot is redesigned for this year with new intuition liners and drops in weight from 1500 grams to 1340 (size 27). The shells are completely identical to my previous 2015 T4s, with the exception of new lighter buckles which decreases the weight of each shell with 20 grams.

The new liners drop approximately 150 gram per boot. To my surprise the liner is slightly lower (5-6mm) and softer than the previous T4 liners with a lower (approx. 20mm) and softer tongue . The new liners reminds me very much of the first generation red-brown T3 liners.

When testing them, they have better ROM (unbuckled shaft) at the cost of slightly less stability. The weight difference is noticeable, but don’t give much difference in speed on the flat or uphill - the softer liner and better ROM are of more importance.

To conclude, they tour and ski very much like the old red-brown T3s. I have a little bit of mixed feeling, I do like the lower weight and better ROM - but I do miss the height and stiffness of the old liners and liner tongue, although the difference is minor. Since most people use T4s for back-country skiing and not steep and hard conditions - I do, however, think that the changes are to the better for most people.

The new liners are very comfortable, an they have a very nice solid heel grip. The liner is softer with less forward and rear support. The result is a softer boot that reminds of the Excursion. Better for touring, but a slight disappointment on the downhill. For me the T4 have been the perfect do-it-all boot, unfortunatly i prefer the old stiffer liers due to their better support.

I got my first pair of T2s last week and I really like them. I've been on T2 ecos or heavy leather boots previously. The boot did exactly what I had hoped. I had the freedom of movement of leather and felt more like a "boot" than a ski boot. Which was one of the big appeals of telemark in the first place for me.

They also corrected what I feel is missing with leather boots, control. With leather boots the connection of your foot to the boot and the boot to the binding\ski is not rock solid. There is wiggle room that I think comes from where the leather upper meets the sole. This allows for a ski to be deflected by a bumpy snow surface even when weighted. It's almost like using a knife with a loose handle.

I had them out with vectors in powder and they felt like a perfect combination. The next day I had powder boards 112 waist and they handled the same powder easily but I wouldn't say a perfect combo. The bigger boards were not as responsive as they would have been with my T2s, but the trade off of a lighter more comfortable boot would make make them worthwhile for the easy terrain I was on.

I had them on some firm bumpy snow with the vectors and felt the low cuff didn't give enough leverage to carve a good turn. This might improve as I get used to them. I don't think they would have had any problem carving in those conditions with a narrower ski.

I would have no problem taking them to the resort to ski groomers, but I would take the T2s if I were skiing off piste on a powder day. I would also use the T2s if I were to commit to a long skin to get to unknown conditions. Spring corn snow they would be fine.

I haven't tried them on a longer K&G type tour to see how they compare to leather yet and it may have to wait until next year as I'm heading south for a few weeks.